Nearly 3,000 hunters have purchased permits to target wolves in Wyoming's first regulated wolf hunt, which began on Monday. Conservation groups, meanwhile, are preparing to challenge Wyoming's approach in court. As of Thursday, hunters had reported killing six wolves since opening day. Rebecca Huntington has more.

Throughout the west a natural process is being witnessed that in some areas has had devastating impacts. The Bark Beetle epidemic has affected millions of acres of forest and caused public officials to ponder what if anything can be done about it. Big Horn Radio Network’s David Koch reports that officials recently looked at the situation in northwest, Wyoming.

Rep. Cynthia Lummis is running for her third term in the US House of Representatives. Lummis is a fiscal conservative who is a member of the appropriations committee. She joins Bob Beck on the campaign trail.

Democrat Chris Henrichsen is a political newcomer who teaches Political Science at Casper College. He is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Cynthia Lummis to focus attention on working people and the middle class. Henrichsen is hoping to be the first Wyoming democrat in Congress since 1978. He is battling a lack of funding, against one of the wealthiest members of Congress. But Henrichsen hopes he views will give him a chance.

The number of Northern Arapaho tribe members who speak their native language is dwindling. Tribal entities have been working for decades trying to preserve the language. Wyoming Public Radio’s Rebecca Martinez reports that they’ve been having mixed success.

This spring, an oil rig blew out near Douglas. Natural gas spewed into the air, and residents from a nearby neighborhood were evacuated for several days. Since the blowout, Chesapeake Energy has drilled several new wells around that same neighborhood, and residents have new concerns. Wyoming Public Radio’s Willow Belden reports.